Tottenham blew a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Olympiacos as they continue to make hard work of things in the Champions League.

Spurs’ run to last season’s final was littered with great escapes and last-ditch turnarounds but their group stage this term looked like getting off to a winning start in Athens.

They were not particularly worthy of it, but a Harry Kane penalty and Lucas Moura’s thunderbolt put them 2-0 ahead after 30 minutes.

But Daniel Podence’s goal on the stroke of half-time let Olympiacos back into it and Mathieu Valbuena’s spot-kick after the restart gave the hosts a deserved point.

It confirmed boss Mauricio Pochettino’s assertion that Spurs would not be among the favourites to win this season’s competition and though the draw means they will still be expected to get out of this group – which also features Bayern Munich and Red Star Belgrade – with relative ease.

They could have laid down a big marker towards that goal, but instead will be heading back to London on the back of a difficult night and with a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday at Leicester to prepare for.

Spurs only had to look at the stats to know how tough this was going to be for them as they were visiting the home of a side who had lost once in their own backyard since September last year.

Spurs had made a mess of their lead – the second time they had squandered such an advantage in three games – but did at least try to recover the situation and a fine chance fell to Alli midway through the second half.

A ricochet saw the England international burst through on goal but his shot from a narrow angle was saved by Jose Sa, with Kane begging for a tap-in in the centre.

For all of Tottenham’s struggles in the match they were at least the ones pushing for victory and Kane was again fuming when Erik Lamela opted to shoot when he might have squared it.